Heather Davis
Renewal Day Spa
For Heather Davis, the definition of self-care has expanded far beyond pampering. Today, it includes stress regulation, lymphatic support, sleep quality, inflammation control, and emotional recovery—critical components of preventive health. At Renewal Day Spa of Trinity, this shift is clear. Clients aren’t just booking services for relaxation anymore. Many come because their doctors, therapists, and even employers encourage a consistent focus on their personal wellness to stay healthy and resilient. Yet the biggest misconception persists - that self-care is selfish or requires large amounts of time. In truth, short, regular practices often have the greatest impact.
Signs of neglect show up subtly—tense shoulders, headaches, irritability, poor sleep, digestive issues, and that “running on empty” feeling. Parents and professionals often miss these clues until they’re overwhelmed. The path back is surprisingly simple: a few minutes of deep breathing, gentle stretching, or stepping away from a screen. Pairing that with scheduled recovery—a monthly massage, facial, lymphatic session, or head spa treatment—creates meaningful, lasting change.
In a world defined by chronic stress, focusing on your personal wellness isn’t indulgent. It’s essential protection that allows people to function, heal, and thrive.
Colleen Naumann
Wildly Co.
Today, the world is redefining what personal wellness truly means. According to natural wellness advocate and owner of Wildly Co., Colleen Naumann, the shift has been long overdue. “People are finally starting to understand that self-care isn’t a luxury,” said Naumann. “It’s not bubble baths and spa days. It’s choosing cleaner products, getting fresh air, and paying attention to your mental health. The simple things matter more than people realize.”
Naumann emphasizes the power of daily choices: gentler products, natural ingredients, nourishing foods, a moment of stillness. “It’s the everyday little choices that end up making the biggest difference,” explained Naumann.
The signs of neglect, she adds, tend to creep in quietly—irritation, fatigue, brain fog, feeling overwhelmed by small things. “Most people are constantly on the move, especially parents, and they don’t even notice it happening.” Her advice for resetting is simple. Step outside, hydrate, stretch, take five guilt-free minutes, or lean on grounding routines. For her, a nightly ritual using her magnesium-infused Relief Body Butter signals her body and mind to unwind.
With digital wellness on the rise, Naumann urges balance. Apps can help, but “real self-care happens when you step away from your phone,” explained Naumann. Time in nature, prayer, reading, meaningful connection, or simply breathing—those are the moments that truly recalibrate us. For Naumann, life on her farm offers the reset no screen ever could.
As she puts it, “Life is a lot. If you don’t take a little time for yourself, everything catches up with you.” In 2026, focusing on personal wellness isn’t an indulgence—it’s essential to staying grounded, resilient, and well.
Chris Eaton
Trinity Yoga & Wellness
In a world that never seems to slow down, Chris Eaton, owner of Trinity Yoga & Wellness, has a simple message that feels more relevant than ever: prioritizing your personal health and wellness isn’t a luxury — it’s survival. “People think self-care is indulgence,” Eaton said. “In reality, it’s intelligence. It’s how we regulate our nervous system, reduce stress, and stay healthy.” As more people enter 2026 determined to change the way they care for themselves, Eaton believes the conversation has finally caught up with what the science has been saying for years. Yoga, breathwork, and mindful movement are no longer passing trends — they’re foundational tools for supporting the body, mind, and spirit in a fast-paced world.
For Eaton, it’s easy to spot the first signs of neglect in busy parents and professionals. They’re wracked with fatigue, irritability, poor sleep, and disconnection from loved ones. “People keep pushing their needs aside until their bodies force a reset,” explained Eaton. His solution? Pause, breathe, reconnect. Even five conscious breaths before a meeting, a short phone-free walk, or a few minutes of morning yoga can retrain the nervous system and allow you to feel present again.
Technology, he notes, can support wellness, but only when used intentionally. Apps can guide meditation or track habits, yet real restoration happens offline. “Step away from screens,” Eaton advised. “Stretch, move, breathe, or sit quietly. Yoga and breathwork help release tension, calm the mind, and reconnect you to yourself in a way no device ever can.”
For those focusing on ways to improve their personal wellness, Eaton recommends three simple habits to protect both mental and physical health: morning sunlight paired with deep breathing to boost mood and focus, mindful meals without distractions to lower stress, and evening stillness practices — gentle stretches, journaling, or yoga — to reset the nervous system for the next day.
“The healthiest people in 2026 won’t be the busiest; they’ll be the most present, regulated, and rested. Taking time to breathe, move, and connect with yourself isn’t a trend — it’s how we prevent burnout, and show up fully in life,” shared Eaton.
Sherrie Maldonado
Palms Wellness Spa
For Sherrie Maldonado, founder of Palms Wellness Spa, personal wellness and self-care have gotten way too complicated. “We’ve made it seem like it’s only about perfect beauty standards or the latest trend,” she said. “But caring for yourself doesn’t have to be intimidating. It doesn’t have to be a to-do list. Sometimes it’s as simple as stepping outside for a couple of minutes, taking a few deep breaths, and just noticing that you’re alive.”
Maldonado sees the consequences when people—especially busy parents and professionals—neglect themselves. Constant fatigue, irritability, poor focus, headaches, even skin flare-ups are all signals that we’re running on empty. “Our bodies talk to us in whispers before they scream,” said Maldonado. “I try not to wait until I’m at that breaking point. Even small moments—reading a book, walking, standing by the ocean, calling a friend—can remind you to care for yourself. Self-care doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Make it your own and make it meaningful.”
Technology adds another layer to wellness. Maldonado enjoys podcasts, motivational content, and wellness videos, but she warns that inspiration isn’t enough. “We all know the habits that make us feel good, but knowing isn’t the same as living them,” explained Maldonado. “It takes intentional choices—what we watch, who we spend time with, how we spend free moments. Digital tools can spark ideas, but real restoration happens offline—in nature, in friendships, in being fully present.”
Her advice for building wellness habits that last is refreshingly simple: move with intention, prioritize sleep, and practice mindful connections. Ten minutes of walking, a phone-free night, or a heartfelt conversation with someone you care about can make a bigger impact than most people realize.
For Maldonado, self-care isn’t optional—it’s medicinal. “Laughing with a friend, sitting by the water, taking a deep breath—these moments lower stress and prevent burnout,” advised Maldonado. “At Palms Wellness Spa, our goal is to help people reconnect mind and body, release tension, and leave feeling vibrant, relaxed, and alive. In 2026, self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s how we thrive.”
Jennifer Parker
You First Health & Wellness
For Jennifer Parker, founder of You First Health & Wellness, the terms wellness and self-care have been misused for far too long. “We’ve turned it into bubble baths and escape,” explained Parker, “when really, it’s the most practical, everyday form of taking care of your health.” As we move into 2026, Parker feels the medical community finally sees personal wellness differently than ever before - the first line of preventive medicine.
Parker’s definition is refreshingly simple. Self-care is the collection of daily habits that keep people grounded and well—steady sleep, decent meals, hydration, movement, mental-health support, and moments that calm the nervous system. Parker laughs when people assume self-care is selfish. “If anything, it helps you show up better for the people who depend on you.”
Working with busy parents, professionals, and caregivers, Parker can spot the early signs of self-neglect almost instantly: the bone-deep tiredness, the short fuse, the foggy thinking, the meals skipped between obligations. “People come in thinking something is ‘wrong’ with them,” explained Parker. “Usually, their bodies are just running on empty.”
Her advice rarely starts with some complicated overhaul. Instead, she focuses on the basics people tend to abandon first—eating regularly, drinking more water, getting outside, sleeping better, and moving for a few minutes each day. She also encourages her patients to reclaim at least one boundary that protects their time or energy. “Small shifts create momentum,” shared Parker. “You don’t need a full reset. You just need to start listening to yourself again.”
With digital wellness tools becoming almost unavoidable, Parker urges people to treat technology as a guide rather than a substitute. Apps can track habits or help with breathing exercises, but they’re not a replacement for proper rest. “Let the app remind you,” explained Parker, “then put the phone down and go do the part that matters.”
To Parker, making self-care non-negotiable isn’t a trend—it’s biology. “Our bodies weren’t built for nonstop stress,” shared Parker. “Self-care keeps everything else—from your mood to your immune system—on steady ground. It’s not optional anymore. It’s the foundation.”
Stephanie Kraskowski
Neurocare Pro
Stephanie Kraskowski wants people to understand something simple about wellness - healing starts with light. Working with her providers and clients, she sees stressed, tired, inflamed, or simply overwhelmed—and walk out feeling grounded, restored, and a little more like themselves. The secret isn’t magic. It’s mitochondria.
“Red light therapy supports the body at a cellular level,” she explained. “It boosts ATP—the energy your cells run on—so they repair and function better.” When cells have more energy, everything from inflammation and muscle soreness to skin health and circulation can improve. For Stephanie, knowing the science is empowering. “Understanding why it works turns the session into something intentional. You’re not just standing in front of a panel; you’re giving your body space and energy to heal.”
And the research backs it up. Studies show red light therapy may enhance athletic performance, cut recovery time, reduce joint pain, improve skin tone and collagen production, and even support soft-tissue healing. But what she loves most is how seamlessly it blends into a genuine personal wellness routine. Post-workout, it becomes a moment of gentle recovery. At night, it signals the body to slow down. Paired with a skincare ritual, it becomes a nurturing reset instead of another task on the list.
“People want to know if it’s safe,” she said. “It is. No UV, non-invasive, and incredibly gentle.” Still, she encourages mindfulness—pay attention to how your body responds, maintain consistent use, and choose a device that’s actually therapeutic.
She offers simple guidelines for at-home users: look for the right wavelengths (630–660 nm for red, 810–850 nm for near-infrared), proper irradiance, and ideally FDA-cleared panels. But ultimately, she said, “The best device is the one you’ll use consistently.”
As 2026 begins, Stephanie believes red light therapy offers something we all crave - a quiet moment, a warm glow, and a reminder that a wellness routine doesn’t always have to be elaborate. Sometimes the most restorative rituals are the ones that bring us back into our bodies—one breath, one pause, one beam of healing light at a time.
Dr. Megan Glaser
Luxbody Wellness
The approach to personal well-being has shifted dramatically, and Dr. Megan Glaser sees it daily. What once felt like a luxury is now recognized as crucial for keeping the body balanced in a high-pressure world. Modern self-care focuses on stabilizing internal systems—regulating stress, supporting hormones, and preventing the chain of problems that arise when the body is pushed too far. "Stress drives so many symptoms in the body like hormonal issues, pain, autoimmune flares and digestive problems. Acupuncture and cupping is one of the best ways to help regulate cortisol, relax tension, support your immunity and bring your body back into balance,” shared Glaser.
Many people fail to notice when their well-being is slipping until symptoms appear. Difficulty sleeping, tension in the neck or jaw, mental fog, fatigue, and a fading sense of joy are common early signs. Addressing them begins with slowing down. Investing time focusing on gentle breathing, eating nourishing foods, proper hydration, and consistent therapeutic sessions that release tension and restore calm is the best path for success on your personal wellness journey.
While digital wellness apps can help with reminders or tracking, they cannot replace physical interventions that directly influence circulation, muscle tension, and stress pathways. True recalibration happens offline, through movement, sunlight, acupuncture, and cupping.
Dr. Glaser emphasizes that investing in your personal wellness in 2026 is not optional. Chronic stress drives hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, persistent aches, and immune strain. Techniques like acupuncture and cupping help bring the body back into a steady rhythm, supporting mental clarity, energy, and long-term resilience. Prioritizing this kind of care is no longer simply beneficial—it’s essential.
“People are finally starting to understand that self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s not bubble baths and spa days. It’s choosing cleaner products, getting fresh air, and paying attention to your mental health. The simple things matter more than people realize.”